Public Affairs & Government Relations

Making sense of public relations, press releases, and social media

Public relations (PR) is a year-round continual effort where momentum is built. News is still news, whether it’s in a press release or a posting on a brand's Facebook page - the principle is the same, but the approach differs. The way press releases are distributed is changing rapidly. There is a bigger attention on the way you create a relationship with the journalist prior to pitching a story, so we can say cold calling is dying, but the press release itself is very much alive. The media landscape is far too complex and changing for one way messages based on outdated media databases. The social media exchange has made it possible for communicators and journalists to communicate and exchange information and knowledge with each others, in an amazing way utilizing new technology. Embrace the technology and use it to your advantage.

Public Relations and Communications Strategies

Most people think PR means generating publicity, and, in turn, sending press releases. There's nothing wrong with this model, but it’s a narrow definition of PR—and it limits the results or exposure you could be getting.

Understanding the mediaAt the core, public relations is all about strategy. It's about strategy pertaining to managing your image and reputation. For example:

What you say about your company, products, or services

What your employees say about your company, products, or services

What your customers/prospective customers say

How all of these people perceive or feel about your company, product, or services